Strikes on defense industry facilities in European Union countries could be one way to deter NATO from potentially using nuclear weapons against Russia, military expert and air defense forces historian Yury Knutov told NEWS.ru. In his view, the West can be restrained above all by a clear demonstration of Russia’s military capabilities.

Knutov argued that deterring a possible attack requires several measures at once. Russia, he said, should continue strengthening its air and missile defenses while also developing offensive weapons systems.

He separately pointed to the Perimeter system, a Soviet-designed command complex intended to control a massive retaliatory nuclear strike. According to Knutov, if the system were activated automatically after an attack, the side that initiated the nuclear strike would face enormous damage in response.

The expert also said defensive and retaliatory capabilities alone are not enough. In his view, Russia should periodically demonstrate its strike power. As one possible measure, he mentioned the use of ballistic weapons against facilities considered to pose the greatest danger.

Knutov said such strikes would show a potential adversary the consequences of further escalation while also reducing risks to Russia’s nuclear arsenal.

He called for an even tougher approach toward countries hosting facilities that manufacture weapons for the Ukrainian military. According to Knutov, a lack of retaliatory measures could encourage Western countries to escalate further, potentially as far as the use of nuclear weapons against Russia.

As an example of a hard-line response, Knutov referred to Israel, saying it acts forcefully when confronted with serious threats. He stressed that he was not calling on Russia to copy Israel’s approach outright.

Knutov added that if drone and cruise missile production facilities are operating in Germany, the United Kingdom and the Baltic states, and weapons made there are being used in attacks that kill Russian civilians, Russia should strike those facilities as well. In his view, such circumstances require a tough response.